Winton homicide victim ID’d, suspect search continues

The search for suspects in the shooting death earlier this week in Winton continued Tuesday in Merced County.

A 26-year-old homicide victim was identified as Anthony Coronado Jr. Investigators were still trying on Tuesday to confirm where Coronado was living at the time of his death, Merced County Sheriff’s Deputy Ed Katen said.

Coronado and a 45-year-old man were shot around 6:45 p.m. Monday at a home in the 6600 block of Golden Bobcat Court in Winton. The second victim is expected to survive, the Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.

A third victim, a 32-year-old man, suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the same incident but was not shot, the Sheriff’s Department said. “Detectives do not believe that this shooting is gang related or drug related,” the Sheriff’s Department said in the statement.

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Deputies declined to release the names of the other two victims or elaborate on possible motives for the shooting to protect the investigation. Deputies also declined to say whether Coronado and the 45-year-old man were related.

No arrests have been made, but deputies say they have identified at least two suspects in the shooting and recovered two of the weapons believed to have been involved in the attack. Deputies declined to elaborate on the suspects’ identity or the weapons recovered.

Witnesses described hearing more than six shots fired Monday night, followed by several people screaming and said at least one vehicle left the area at high speed. Deputies said the vehicle seen leaving the area was most likely taking the 32-year-old victim to an area hospital.

Investigators said an argument at the home evolved into a fight. Multiple guns were fired, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Deputies said the victims and suspects know each other.

Coronado’s death marked the second homicide of the year in Merced County.

A 21-year-old Merced man was found shot dead New Year’s Day outside a home in the 1300 block of Derby Drive in Merced. Police believe that case was gang related. No arrests have been made.

In 2013, Merced County had 29 homicides, the largest number of violent deaths in more than two decades.

Detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify those responsible for Monday’s homicide. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Department at (209) 385-7472.